{"id":1978,"date":"2013-06-06T09:34:16","date_gmt":"2013-06-06T13:34:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/everydayspirituality\/?p=1978"},"modified":"2013-05-29T10:01:28","modified_gmt":"2013-05-29T14:01:28","slug":"pruning-out-the-useless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/2013\/06\/pruning-out-the-useless.html","title":{"rendered":"Pruning Out the Useless"},"content":{"rendered":"

Down the road from where I live is a grape vineyard. Uncared for. Neglected. The trellised vines are still standing, but the amount of fruit produced is negligible.<\/p>\n

Farmers know that they need to prune their trees and plants in order to be productive. Excessive limbs and vines are cut out so they don\u2019t block sunshine and hog all the space. Fruit is then allowed to grow to a respectable productive size.<\/p>\n

\"unpruned<\/a><\/p>\n

I suppose the small vineyard down the road hasn\u2019t been removed, maybe for sentimental reasons, or just because no one wants to do the work. It\u2019s not hurting anyone and the little bit of fruit is probably feeding the birds. But is there more<\/a>?<\/p>\n

What would stop me from pruning?<\/p>\n

Am I holding on to useless thoughts that block the sunshine of truth?<\/p>\n

Am I neglecting to prune out excessive nonsense that prohibits the fruits of Spirit from growing?<\/p>\n

A list of useless thoughts and actions includes: praying my life away; keeping things I don’t need; deluding myself into thinking something in this world is complete and perfect; retiring into apathy.<\/p>\n

From 21st Century Science and Health:<\/em><\/p>\n

Calling on Mind to forgive our unfinished or sloppy work, is useless.<\/p>\n

Uselessness and backwardness are not legitimate states. God made us free<\/p>\n

Paul writes, \u201cIf Christ [Truth] has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.\u201d[1]<\/b><\/a> That is, if the idea of the supremacy of Spirit doesn\u2019t come to your consciousness, you cannot be benefited by what I say.<\/p>\n

Until the opponents of divine Science test its efficacy according to its rules which reveal its usefulness or uselessness, it would be fair to observe the Scriptural precept, \u201cDo not judge.\u201d[2]<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Surely we need to do more than preserve unreliable and useless dogmas<\/a>, derived from religious traditions and stamped with human approval or authorization.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
\n

[1]<\/b><\/a> I Cor. 15:14 (Brackets added by Mary Baker Eddy)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[2]<\/b><\/a> Matt. 7:1; Luke 6:37; John 7:24<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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